Decency, or, Why Bach Matters

While I was at the Denver Mountain Sun (an expansion of my very favoritest pub, ever, based in Boulder), I was thinking about the enormous pile of cello homework I've been given for winter break...which starts after my juries on Saturday morning. A significant chunk of this large pile o' homework is an entire Bach sonata that is due January 3rd. That's a lot to ask, as Bach is a bit temper/mental (snort, music major dork joke). ANYWAY! While I was drinking another free beer at the Denver Mountain Sun (they keep sending me coupons and I keep going, it's a symbiotic relationship), I started to think about whether or not Bach is still relevant today.

I think he is. While he wrote a lot for church, was very religious, and was overly excited about counterpoint, which are all things I'm not into at all, I've found that playing his music means you have to be calm, collected, and thoughtful. To play his music well, seems to include the requirement of being a decent human being.

I think decency is very much missing from a lot of folks (including a small subset of my circle) in general. And by decency, I don't mean dressing modestly. Nakedity happens and is natural, and naked dancing to Bach would make for a fun show, actually. What I mean is having the ability to see the world beyond where our natural selfishness ends. Having the ability to empathize with others and making the conscious decision to be helpful and caring. And having Bach be an inspiration for this is exactly why his music still matters today.

Hmm. I see a pattern in my last few blogs as I wrestle with how to deal with some people I know! Anyway, I don't belive in an afterlife, although I do flirt with the idea of reincarnation. If this is the only life I've got, I'm going to make it as great as I can. To quote a random quote I read somewhere, "I can't think of a single instance where being an asshole helped me get ahead." I try to be as decent as I can, with the typical Erin screw-ups. So if I'm wrong about the afterlife and reincarnation, I can at least be glad I tried to be a decent human, naked Bach dancing and all.

An Erinku:
Mountain Sun
has hoppy beer
I love to drink it
anyways